Grounding 5th wheel
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 58
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From: Paisley, OR
Grounding 5th wheel
Should I run a ground from the trailer battery to the frame? Last night I crawled around under the trailer and I could not find a ground wire to the frame. The last time I towed my 5th wheel, I had no brakes, good thing it was only 8 miles from home to the campground. I have power from the brake controller to the 7 pin on the truck, so the controller is working. The only ground on the trailer is grounded to the negitive side of the battery, but not to the frame. Thanks for your help.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Dixie
You should check for a ground to the frame in the trailer plug. Without this ground circuit you won't have any trailer brakes and it's likely that the break-away will not work either. Do the lights on the trailer work? If so then the trailer is probably grounding through the hitch. This is not adequate and a solid ground needs to be established through the plug.
Good Luck,
Dorf
Good Luck,
Dorf
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
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From: Utah County, UT
I have not seen a trailer yet that didn't use the chassis as a common ground point. ALSO, you will need a good ground from the trailer chassis to the truck through the plug cable. Ever see someone's trailer at night that flashed with every bump? I would recommend getting the RV 7 conductor cable that has different sized conductors, believe 14 awg for running left and right turn, 12awg for brakes, and 10awg for charge and ground.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Michigan
Your trailer battery ground wouldn't have anything to do with your lights or brakes. That is from the tow vehicle electric system. Your trailer battery should be grounded to the frame of the trailer which essentially bonds both systems together but the brakes and lights will work without it. When I pull my 5er away for storage the batteries are removed and all systems work as they are supposed to. Make sure your ground is getting thru your connections from truck to trailer and you have power to your brakes.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 58
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From: Paisley, OR
I think maybe I found the problem. The only ground to metal was to a bolt on the pump for the bedroom slide. But problem is that the pump is mounted on a 2X8, which is attached to plywood. It's metal, but not grounded. I ran a wire from the frame to ground on the pump, hopefully this works. I will check it this weekend when I pull out the 5er. Thanks for all the help.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: LaPorte, CO
You should still ensure that you have a good solid ground from the trailer 7 pin connector to the frame. Pin #1 (white) is the correct ground. If that wire only goes to the negative post on the battery, you need to also connect it to the frame.
Here is a link to a good 7 pin wiring diagram.
Here is a link to a good 7 pin wiring diagram.
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